Johnston activities director Gary Ross has been one of the best-known high school administrators in Iowa in recent years. Now, he's leaving to take a job that covers the entire state.

Ross has been hired as an associate director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, according to a press release from the Union.

He'll begin working at the Union on Aug. 1 and will be the main administrator for girls' basketball, cross country and track. He served Johnston for 22 years.

Ross has been a familiar face in the top levels of Iowa high school sports. He's one of the few individuals to serve on both the ruling boards of both the Girls Union and the boys' Iowa High School Athletic Association.

He's the current chairman of the Association's board of control.

“I look forward to having Gary as a part of our team,” Union executive director Jean Berger said in a press release. “Gary’s extensive administrative experience will be a valuable asset — not only to our organization but to the schools we serve.”

Ross was hired by Johnston in 1995. He had previously held jobs at New Hampton, Maquoketa Valley of Delhi and Linn-Mar of Marion.

His energy and skills guided Johnston High School from a small but growing Des Moines suburban school into one of the state's top athletic powers. The district will open a new high school building this fall.

Johnston is currently the state's fifth largest high school.

The Dragons won state team championships 11 times between 2007 and 2017. That includes crowns in baseball, softball, volleyball, girls' cross country and girls' bowling.

Ross is a former president of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association and was named its athletic director of the year in 2014.

The Union also announced the hiring of Jacquelyn Endsley as its coordinator of business development.

Endsley, who will start next month, will oversee corporate marketing sponsorships for the Union's state championship events. She's a former NCAA employee who worked in corporate relationships, marketing and broadcast alliances.